Angela Rayner calls for urgent change in Labour’s priorities and policy
Former Deputy PM highlights need for action following local election losses
Last updated 2 hours ago
Angela Rayner, Ashton-under-Lyne MP and former Deputy Prime Minister, has urged the Prime Minister to deliver transformative change following Labour's local election losses, which she described as an "historic defeat."
Rayner emphasized the need for Labour to become a party focused on working people, addressing urgent issues like the cost of living crisis and economic inequality that have caused voters to turn to populist alternatives.
Urgent economic and social reforms
Highlighting stagnant living standards and inequality driven by deregulation, Rayner advocated for immediate measures to reduce household costs and boost the everyday economy:
“We need immediate action to cut costs for households...ensuring those who benefit from the crisis contribute more so that everyone can thrive," she stated.
Her proposals include creating Fair Pay Agreements, raising the minimum wage, and using housing investments to stimulate construction and benefit local workers.
Empowerment and local growth
Rayner called for empowering local communities through enhanced mayoral powers and public ownership, and criticized privatisation failures like Thames Water:
“Boosting community ownership and stopping the sell-off of local assets...helping restore the pride they feel in the places they live,” she acclaimed.
Political reform and unity
Acknowledging internal party dynamics, Rayner stressed the need for unity and listening to diverse voices within Labour, and advocated for political system reform to prioritize ordinary people’s interests.
"The Prime Minister must now meet the moment and set out the change our country needs," Rayner declared, urging Labour to focus on making working people better off urgently.
Labour faces a pivotal moment, and Rayner’s call to action underscores the necessity for substantial change in strategies and priorities to resonate with the electorate.